During a fortuitous lunch discussion on the Light Meets Materials Synergy Day 2023, the seed to the project “Light-Driven Material Optimization” was born. In November, this project was selected as one of the five Young Investigator Synergy Awards. Embarking on the frontier of renewable energy, the project seeks to enhance zinc phosphide (Zn3P2), an earth-abundant solar cell material with potential in sustainable energy harvesting, and ternary compounds based on this system.
At its core, the project is a dynamic fusion of two fundamental research components: material growth and light-based characterisation. The grown materials will undergo comprehensive scrutiny through various spectroscopic techniques. These characterisation outcomes, in turn, will intricately guide the subsequent phases of material growth.
The journey within this project promises to unravel a profound understanding of light-matter interactions within Zn3P2 nanostructures, unlocking the potential for high-performance solar cells. Beyond these solar applications, the insights gained could pave the way for diverse collaborations and explorations. The versatility of Zn3P2 nanostructures positions them as candidates for applications ranging from infra-red light-emitting diodes and photosensors to photocatalysis. As a cost-effective and abundantly available material, Zn3P2 is poised to make significant strides in commercial applications.
“Light-Driven Material Optimization” is not merely a project; it is a visionary exploration into the realms of renewable energy, poised to reshape the landscape of materials science and light-based technologies.
The team
The dynamic duo comprises the two postdoctoral fellows Simon Escobar Steinvall, a material scientist from the Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, and Zehan Yao, a spectroscopy expert from the Chemical Physics Division. This collaboration between a material scientist and a spectroscopic expert embodies the perfect synergy of light and material, propelling our project toward unprecedented heights.
Read about the other projects granted the Light & Materials Young Investigator Award 2023:
- Confined light-matter interactions and exciton dynamics with a versatile tuneable microcavity
- Harnessing Cutting-Edge Light sources in Lund for Insights and Applications of Synthezised Carbonaceous Nanoparticles
- Optimizing New Generation Sustainable GaInP Nanowire based micro-LEDs (μ-LEDs) with AI-Enhanced Functional Imaging
- Studying the temporal dynamics of light driven coherent electron waves in nano structures
